ISBA News

Honored in recognition of his commitment to equal justice and exemplary career as a civil legal services attorney

By Wendy Vaughn, Clinical Assistant Professor,
NIU College of Law, Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic

During its 137th Annual Meeting, the Illinois State Bar Association awarded Bernard H. Shapiro with the Joseph R. Bartylak Memorial Legal Services Award at award luncheon on June 21, 2013.  For the last 35 years, Bernard H. Shapiro (Bernie) has dedicated his legal career and devoted his considerable intellect and legal acumen to meeting the basic needs of residents of Northern Illinois in his role as attorney, mentor, advocate, trainer, and Director of Litigation at Prairie State Legal Services (Prairie State). 

In her nomination letter, Sarah Megan, who also serves as Director of Litigation at Prairie State, writes that Bernie is “the lynchpin of our legal aid program,” “the soul of our organization,” and “a role model for not only all our staff, but for all legal aid staff.” Ms. Megan explains that Bernie’s fellow attorneys “rely on his superb legal analysis and strategy as well as his pragmatic problem solving skill.  We learn from his example of excellence; always focused on achieving our clients’ goals, providing our clients the highest caliber legal services in a most compassionate and respectful way.”

The Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, the organization's 203-person policy making body, approved several reports during the 137th Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva, Wis.

The Assembly unanimously approved the 53-page report and recommendations of the Special Committee on the Impact of Law School Debt on the Delivery of Legal Services. The report was supported with research and testimony from statewide hearings that call for dramatic changes in the way law schools deliver education. The Assembly also moved to adopt the report as coming from ISBA and not just the special committee and sending the report to the deans of all Illinois law schools, newspapers editors and Supreme Court justices. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has written to the ABA Task Force on the Future of Legal Education recommending the findings in the ISBA report.

The Assembly also approved the report and recommendations of the Special Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts.

ISBA Past President John Locallo presented the report and recommendations of the Special Committee on Collaborative Law, which opposed legislative passage of the "Uniform Collaborative Law Act" as a violation of separation of powers. The Assembly approved that report as well.

ISBA Membership Dues for 2013-2014

Deadline: July 1 / Renew Online

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline to renew your dues for the 2013-2014 bar year is Monday, July 1. Renewing your dues by the deadline ensures continued service of all your benefits… benefits that help you save time, save money and reduce your stress. Here’s how:

• FREE ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH - Value: $995/year

Replace or supplement your current legal research package with the comprehensive and user-friendly Fastcase Premium Plan. Access the free online training programs to get started. Brought to you by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company

• FREE ONLINE CLE - Value: $349/year

Meet your CLE requirement over a 2 year period for no extra cost by using the ISBA Free CLE Channel. Eligible* memberscan earn up to 15 hours MCLE per bar year through this program.

ISBA President John E. Thies applauds the action of the Illinois General Assembly to increase court funding to $302.3 million, up from $281.1 million last year.

"With the leadership of the Illinois Supreme Court, and especially Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride, we have begun what we all hope will be a sustained commitment to reverse the reduction in court funding, thereby ensuring that courts continue to provide their constitutionally-mandated services to the people of Illinois," Thies said, continuing: "It remains an important priority of our Association to work with the Supreme Court, the Conference of Chief Judges, the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts and the rest of the organized bar to achieve this goal."

During his term as president, Thies advocated for an increase in court funding. He established a Special Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts, co-chaired by Kane County Judge Patricia P. Golden (Ret.), of West Dundee, and Illinois Appellate Court Justice James M. Wexstten, of Mt. Vernon. Their 64-page report, which addressed the serious funding crisis facing Illinois courts, was accepted on May 17 at a meeting of the ISBA Board of Governors.

"The committee's report stopped short of saying that the current court system could not do its job, but it recognized that the breaking point was near," Thies stated.